The Catterthun Disaster.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 6, Issue 65, 16 August 1895, Page 2

The Catterthun Disaster.

Sydney, August 13.

A local shipmaster says he is astounded to hear that the Catterthun was so close in. He cannot understand what would cause her to be so close to shore. The Seal Rocks are so much further eastward than Port Stephens that there could not be any mistake as to the lights. Captain Craig, an old officer in the China trade, thinks the course must have been altered too soon. Had the steamer gone on another quarter of an hour she would have cleared the Seal Rocks.

The vessel w t as a staunch ship. She had no double bottom with modern water ballast tanks, but had a water ballast tank, though not of the latest pattern. This would probably cause her to sink more rapidly than otherwise. The officers were married men with the exception of Mr Adams, who was to have been married in six months. The engineers were single men. A cutter was picked up yesterday containing the body of a Chinaman with the skull snu bed in. The tug picked up the bodies of two others belonging to the Asiatic crew. Later. Vessels arriving report a strong current setting north in the vicinity of Seal Rocks. This is contrary to the general trend of the currents. All wreckage is found drifting north. Another boat, the captain’s gig, was picked up at Cape Hawke, Captain Fawkes states land could be seen occasionly. He could not understood how the wreck occurred, as.it was only an ordinary piece of navigation. The rocks were wellknown, and vessels were naturally on the lqo)j:-out for them. The wind, instead of blowing the vessel on to the rooks, was in the opposite direction. August 14. The inquest on tne victims of the Catterthun wreck has begun, Mr Forster Danfear, In fiis evidence, stated that he was in charge at the time of the vessel’s striking, the captain being in the chart room. He saw tfie Seal light, but declined to give the course they were steering. He did not see the green light, which would indicate danger. He refused to say whether he altered the course during his watch, or what position the Seal light bore at the time the ship* struck. The evidence at the Inquest showed that the weather was very thick when the relief tug arrived on the scene. Another Chinaman’s body has been recovered, and was buried at sea. A small quantity of wreckage is com f I

ing ashore, including some passengers’ effects.

At the inquest on those drowned by the Catterthun wreck, the second mate, after some pressure, stated that the course steered was north 40deg. east when the vessel struck. He had headed her out to the eastward three points eight minutes before she struck, as he thought they were getting too close in shore. The course steered from Port Stephens showed he did not intend to go between the Seal Rocks and the mainland, but either a high sea or a high following sea brought her in. The vessel was steering north 30deg. east when he took charge. Later. Nothing will be done regarding salvaging the Catterthun until Langpear returns. It is reported, however, the owners of the gold are already negotiating with diners for its recovery, but their success will depend on the depth of water in which the vessel is. The Catterthun was an iron screw steamer of 2,179 tons gross, 1,987 tons under deck, and 1,406 tons net, built in 1881 by W. Doxford & Sons, Sunderland. Her dimensions were—length, 302 ft. Sin.; breadth, 86ft. sin.; depth, 23ft. 7in. The engines were on the compound principle, with cylinders of 40in. and 70in., and a stoke of 48in.